Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Massachussets
I think we know what Political Mayhem Thursday will be about this week! Get your keyboards warmed up now...
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I never thought I would live to see a Republican actually elected to the Senate from the Commonwealth. Yet, 51% of registered voters in the state are independent and the fiscally conservative socially liberal (or at least moderate) paradigm has elected several Republican governors over the last twenty years.
The Boston/Cambridge establishment has for too long ignored the state West of I-95 (128) for locals. Middlesex County is one quarter of the state's population (and represents a substantial portion of its wealth); more than half of this county's population is west of the 128 pale.
Democrats in Mass should do their homework and drop the 128 provincialism.
It's too bad, I thought we might actually get meaningful helathcare reform this time.
The Boston/Cambridge establishment has for too long ignored the state West of I-95 (128) for locals. Middlesex County is one quarter of the state's population (and represents a substantial portion of its wealth); more than half of this county's population is west of the 128 pale.
Democrats in Mass should do their homework and drop the 128 provincialism.
It's too bad, I thought we might actually get meaningful helathcare reform this time.
Also, there is no way you are going to win an election in Massachusetts if you assign a Red Sox hero to Yankee status.
While I agree with you on the fact of Massachusetts politics, Scott, do you really think the abomination that was going to come from Congress was "meaningful" health care reform?
As for what this means, again, spin will go into full force. Republicans will claim that a slim majority victory in a state that traditionally leans blue is a referendum on the socialist/Muslim policies of the Democratic Party. Democrats will of course dither and say that it was all Coakley's fault, forgetting that they approved of this choice and are so politically inept that an eighteen-seat majority in the Senate means defeat. The rest of the progressives will bitch and in-fight among themselves, competing for who has suffered more and indulging in self-indulgent identity politics in a game of self-sabotaging one-upmanship while the right dances among the ruins of the first chance at a meaningful political reform out of the corporatist, sludgy mess that American politics has become.
You know what, this is making me far too angry. I'm going to go drink myself to sleep.
As for what this means, again, spin will go into full force. Republicans will claim that a slim majority victory in a state that traditionally leans blue is a referendum on the socialist/Muslim policies of the Democratic Party. Democrats will of course dither and say that it was all Coakley's fault, forgetting that they approved of this choice and are so politically inept that an eighteen-seat majority in the Senate means defeat. The rest of the progressives will bitch and in-fight among themselves, competing for who has suffered more and indulging in self-indulgent identity politics in a game of self-sabotaging one-upmanship while the right dances among the ruins of the first chance at a meaningful political reform out of the corporatist, sludgy mess that American politics has become.
You know what, this is making me far too angry. I'm going to go drink myself to sleep.
I'll get started early on the topic. I'm not sure why people are so surprised by this, except that Kennedy has held this Senate seat for (almost) my entire lifetime.
Mass. has in fact elected Republican Gov., Mitt Romney comes to mind, in the past. They also have a health care mandate in place.
I'm not certain what is worse at this point. Listening to the talking heads discuss the Senate stalemate implications or the continuing news from Haiti. This and the fact that my 'republican' parents are coming to town on the heal of this news. No wonder I have a headache.
Have a great day everyone.
Mass. has in fact elected Republican Gov., Mitt Romney comes to mind, in the past. They also have a health care mandate in place.
I'm not certain what is worse at this point. Listening to the talking heads discuss the Senate stalemate implications or the continuing news from Haiti. This and the fact that my 'republican' parents are coming to town on the heal of this news. No wonder I have a headache.
Have a great day everyone.
The election of a Republican in a state carried so heavily by Obama less than 2 years ago seems to be a pretty clear message from Americans to Congress: "We don't like what you're doing."
I wrote this to a fellow political junkie last week. I remain in shock in re the "shot heard round the world."
From last week:
...thinking about the election in MA, the American system is so amazing and ironic that sometimes the "providential explanation" is the least taxing on one's credulity.
Let me preface this by saying that I expect Brown to fall short, but the irony of this moment, as we are "on the PRECIPICE of national healthcare," on the brink of finally achieving the Holy Grail of the post-FDR Democratic Party, possible only through this incredibly rare and unlikely moment of Democratic control of the presidency, the House, and a Senate super majority. Now, out of the blue, comes an unplanned referendum on the HCB, emerging in of all places the most liberal state in the Union to replace Ted Kennedy--arguably the quintessential liberal senator of the age, who, embodied the seemingly quixotic quest for national healthcare, and for whom the crassly partisan Democrats had sentimentally named the bill. And Brown has a chance.
Only in America.
If Brown wins--it would rival the deaths of TJ and JA on July 4, 1826 for dramatic irony.
Amazing.
From last week:
...thinking about the election in MA, the American system is so amazing and ironic that sometimes the "providential explanation" is the least taxing on one's credulity.
Let me preface this by saying that I expect Brown to fall short, but the irony of this moment, as we are "on the PRECIPICE of national healthcare," on the brink of finally achieving the Holy Grail of the post-FDR Democratic Party, possible only through this incredibly rare and unlikely moment of Democratic control of the presidency, the House, and a Senate super majority. Now, out of the blue, comes an unplanned referendum on the HCB, emerging in of all places the most liberal state in the Union to replace Ted Kennedy--arguably the quintessential liberal senator of the age, who, embodied the seemingly quixotic quest for national healthcare, and for whom the crassly partisan Democrats had sentimentally named the bill. And Brown has a chance.
Only in America.
If Brown wins--it would rival the deaths of TJ and JA on July 4, 1826 for dramatic irony.
Amazing.
A referendum? From a single state that itself possesses a stronger public health care system than either bill in Congress? See? Spin! It's all spin.
# posted by 
: 12:31 PM
: 12:31 PM
The fact is that about half the electorate of Mass. are registered Independents. My guess is that Mass. lets Independent's vote for more than judges and non-partisan issues during primaries. In FL, being a registered Ind. or NA meant you could not voice your opinion one way or the other in a primary and this generally forced someone to pick a party.
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